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Effect of finasteride on free and total serum prostate-specific antigen in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia
Objective:
To examine changes in the free-to-total (f/t) serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio among men treated with finasteride for benign prostatic hypertrophy.
Patients And Methods:
Blood samples were taken from 20 men (mean age 71 years, range 61-87) before and after a minimum of 9 months of treatment with finasteride and the f/tPSA ratio determined using the Immulite assay system.
Results:
Although mean total and free PSA levels decreased significantly, the mean f/tPSA ratio increased only slightly and not significantly; the ratios remained unchanged in men with an initially low or high (< > 10%) ratio.
Conclusions:
Concern has been expressed over the loss of the discriminatory power of serum PSA in a patient receiving treatment with finasteride. The f/tPSA ratio, currently used to help differentiate benign from malignant processes in the prostate, remains valid during treatment with finasteride; it does not affect the f/tPSA ratio.